| April 16, 2009: 8th Centenary of the Rule |
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Eight hundred years ago today, St. Francis received the approval of our way of life from Pope Innocent III. "This is the rule and life of the Minor Brothers, namely, to observe the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by living in obedience, in poverty, and in chastity."
Today, as is the tradition in the Order, friars are invited to renwew their commitment. Below is the text from "Franciscans At Prayer":
Brothers, it has been a tradition in our Order that each year on April 16 - the day on which Francis made his profession into the hands of Pope Innocent III - we gather and renew our profession. The purpose of this renewal is to recall the origins of our Rule, to recall the devotion of Francis and his companions as they promised to follow the holy Gospel, to recall our own fervor as we began this way of life, and to resolve to commit ourselves again to these ideals.
Let us pray that, with the help of God and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Francis, we may regain our initial fervor and re-commit ourselves to the life we have professed.
Psalm 116.10-17 is recited
Galatians 6.14-17 is read
A Reading from the Rule of 1223
The Rule and life of the friars minor is this, namely, to observe the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by living in obedience, without property, and in chastity. Brother Francis promises obedience and reverence to his holiness Pope Honorius and his lawfully elected successors and to the Church of Rome. The other friars are bound to obey Brother Francis and his successors.
Renewal of Profession (recited together)
Lord God, I give you thanks for the wonderful gift of calling me, a sinner, to religious life in the Franciscan family. I firmly resolve to renew my vows to live my whole life in obedience, without property and in chastity according to the Rule of St. Francis confirmed by Pope Honorius and the Constitutions of the Order.
Lord, give me the grace to live for you alone in Gospel simplicity and joy.
Immaculate Virgin Mary, Holy Father Francis, intercede for me and for the whole Franciscan family. Amen.
Prayer
As we renew our commitment to follow Francis, we pray:
My God and my All!
Lord, forgive our many transgressions against the Rule and our vows:
- help us to forgive one another.
Lord, make us instruments of your peace;
- help us to establish your kingdom of peace in the world.
May our lives of faith, good works and prayer,
- attract many to the house of the Lord.
Save us from living in the past and resting on the works of others;
- give us new life and enthusiastic trust in your guidance.
Lord, grant peace to those friars who have gone before us;
- may they find rest in your presence.
Father in heaven, may everything praise you;
- for you alone are God, living and true.
Our Father...
Father, you helped St. Francis to reflect the image of Christ through a life of pverty and humility. May we follow your Son by walking in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi, and by imitating his joyful love.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Conclusion - Blessing of St. Francis
Whoever shall observe these things may he be filled in heaven with the blessing of the most high Father, and may he be filled on earth with the blessing of his beloved Son, together with the Holy Spirit, the Consoler, and all the powers of heaven and all the saints. And I, brother Francis, your worthless servant, as far as I am able, approve this most holy blessing both internally and externally.
Amen.
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| Provincial sends letter to L'Aquila friars |
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The destroyed bell tower of the Basilica of St. Bernardine in L'Aquila
L'AQUILA, ITALY - On April 7, a strong earthquake struck the city of Aquila, Italy. The earthquake was so strong, it was felt even at our Convento San Francesco in Rome, where the friary was felt to sway. There was no damage at our house in Rome.
The situation didn't fare as well for the friars in L'Aquila. While the friars all escaped serious harm and injury, their Provincial Curia of the Province of Saint Bernadine was destroyed while the Basilica - which holds the mortal remains of St. Bernadine himself - and the Poor Clare Monastery both suffered severe damage. The Province of St. Bernardine holds a very special place in the heart of our Province as our founder, Friar Pamphilus, was a member of that Province.
Among the dead is the Abbess of the Poor Clare Monastery of Paganica not far from the city of Aquila. Two other Poor Clare Sisters were hospitalized while the rest of the sisters were taken into the home of a family member of one of the sisters. As we show our nearness to the brothers of the Province of Aquila, we also pray for all the wounded and dead.
Provincial Minister Robert Campagna, immediately dispatched a letter to the Provincial Minister of St. Bernardine Province, Friar Virgilio Di Virgilio. Friar Antonio Riccio has remained in daily contact with him via phone.
Fr. Robert is also asking all friars of our Province to express their solidarity with our brothers in L'Aquila by making a monatery contribution to their rebuilding effort. Contributions can be sent to our Provincial Curia in New York and a single donation from our Province will be sent to L'Aquila. "I invite the friars of our Province to show our closeness to these people and our brothers at this time of crisis," Fr. Robert said.
Below is the English translation of the letter Fr. Robert sent to the Provincial Minister in L'Aquila:
My very dear Fr. Virgilio,
We learned with pain the sad news of the devastating earthquake that hit L'Abruzzo and L'Aquila particularly. In the name of my Province and our friars, I want to express to you and to all of the Abruzzi brothers our fraternal solidarity in this difficult and serious time for you and for your people.
Certainly you are in our thoughts and in our prayers but we want also to help you meet your more urgent needs resulting from this huge disaster. I ask you to please let us know what in what way we can be of greatest assistance to help alleviate your troubles and help to remedy the serious damage you face immediately.
We invoke for your protection our Immaculate Mother, St. Francis, St. Bernardine of Siena, and Bl. Cesidio da Fossa. I greet you with our fraternal affection.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Robert Campagna, OFM (Provincial Minister) |
| North End faithful aid earthquake victims |
By John M. Guilfoil - Boston Globe, April 13, 2009
BOSTON - During an Easter Mass at St. Leonard of Port Maurice Roman Catholic Church in the North End yesterday, worshipers opened their wallets to send some relief back to Italy to aid victims of the devastating earthquake that shook the central part of the country on April 6, killing nearly 300 people.
"As we rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, so many of our brothers and sisters can't," the Rev. Antonio Nardoianni told parishioners in English and Italian at the Mass, emphasizing the "deep sorrow in the loss of lives and loss of homes" from the earthquake.
The churchgoers who filled the pews on the holiest day of the Christian calendar were given special envelopes to earmark their donations for Italian relief. The effort will continue this Sunday, when a second collection will be taken at all four of Boston's North End Catholic churches - St. Leonard, St. Stephen, Sacred Heart, and St. Mary's Chapel - to aid victims and bolster relief efforts in the battered Abruzzo region.
The money will be delivered to the bishop of the Archdiocese of L'Aquila, near the epicenter of the quake. The 6.3 magnitude earthquake also displaced about 40,000 people and destroyed centuries-old buildings.
"To many, they feel that the church is the surest way to bring [relief]," Nardoianni said in an interview after the services.
The catastrophe in Italy rings close to home for many in this community.
"Most people still see this to be the meeting point [for Italians]," Nardoianni said.
Churchgoer Lucia Bellotti, 40, of Winchester, said her cousin, Luca Balena, is a fire captain in Bari, on the southeast coast of Italy.
He was called to L'Aquila to help quake victims.
"He's a great man. He risks his life every day," Bellotti said. "Their job is to go inside and just help people and help them pack up their personal things. He risks his life every moment, but he loves to do it."
Balena told his American family members that his fellow Italians were sticking together. Community members are taking care of each other, and Balena said there was plenty of food to go around for everyone, in typical Italian fashion.
In one case, Balena's fire crew found an 80-year-old woman sitting in her partially collapsed house, peacefully crocheting.
She told them to go away and find someone who needed help. |
| Friar transfers announced |
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NEW YORK - Following a recent meeting of the Provincial Council, Provincial Minister Robert Campagna has announced the following transfers effecitve June 15:
- Friar Bruce Czapla has been assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Derry, NH as Pastor.
- Friar Charles Gingerich has been assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Derry, NH, as Pastoral Associate.
- Friar Roger Hall has been assigned to St. Michael Church in Waterbury, CT as Pastor.
- Friar Philip Pacheco has been assigned to St. Francis Xavier Church in New Milford, CT as Associate Pastor.
- Friar Ronald Gliatta has been approved to enter temporary retirement due to health reasons. Note: With adequate rest, Ron hopes to again assume pastoral duties in the future.
- Friar Dennis Arambasick will become Pastor of St. Joseph Church, Winsted, CT.
The following assignment has been made effective April 13:
- Friar Thomas Washburn has been appointed as Provincial Director of Vocations. The vocation office will be relocated to St. Leonard Friary in Boston.
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| Easter Letter of the General Minister |
 ROME - The annual Easter Letter of the General Minister, Jose Rodriguez Carballo, has been published on the Order's website. In his letter, the General Minister writes, "It hasn't been long since spring season officially started here in Rome," said the General Minster's letter to his brothers. "Once again, we are enjoying good weather as we contemplate the new spring beauty with which our mother earth is adorned. The feast of Easter is approaching and our hearts are already filling up with joy as we draw closer to the utterance of that Easter Proclamation, 'He is not here; He is Risen!' (Lk 24:6). Easter is, indeed, approaching, and our feet are already walking in haste because this year we know we will hear again very soon, 'Go into the entire world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation' (Mk 16:15)." He added: "Because of these Easter celebrations, I wish to draw closer to you once again, my dear brothers, to both the young and the old, the sick and the healthy, and shout with all my strength, 'Rejoice in the Lord' (Phil. 3:1)." The letter closed with: "My dear brothers, let us turn our gaze once more toward St. Francis, our father and brother. The Little Poor Man lived moments of great weakness in his body and great struggle in his soul. The illnesses and problems he often met in fraternity gradually consumed him; he was unable to walk and, eventually, had to be carried on a mule. Yet, there is something he had not renounced, namely, to be a messenger of joy until the end (cf. LP 24). Joy was always with Francis." He said, "Hence, God is inviting us at Easter to share his joy of creating love and joy in others. Let us be sowers of love, then, and joy will sprout in our land. Let us always remember that our joy is an eminent missionary act and an invitation to love, hope, create, and live." For the full text visit: http://www.ofm.org/01docum/mingen/pasqua09ING.pdf | |
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| Prayer for Vocations |
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O Mary Immaculate, Patroness of the Americas
and Queen of the Order of Friars Minor,
we ask you to inspire humble and chosen souls
for a life in Christ and in the spirit of St. Francis.
With
Motherly care,
foster vocations to our Order and to our Province,
so that seraphic love, labor and sacrifice
will ever flourish in this land dedicated to your protection.
Amen.
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